Hands-Free Connectors
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorWade J. DOLL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The description relates to connectors for connecting components of a system. One example can include a rectangular housing that has connectors positioned along at least one side. A single axis deployment mechanism can be configured to constrain movement of the connectors to a single axis. Upon receiving input from an angle that is perpendicular or oblique to the axis, the single axis deployment mechanism can be configured to cause the connectors to move sequentially from either of a stored position or a deployed position to the other of the stored position or the deployed position.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a first component comprising a first connector;
- a second component comprising a second connector that is associated with a deployment chassis that is configured to allow movement of the second connector only along a single axis that is toward and away from the first component;
- and,
- the deployment chassis configured to convert a force that is perpendicular to the single axis to a force on the second connector that is parallel to the single axis to move the second connector from a stored position toward the first connector to a deployed position to complete a connection and to convert a subsequent force that is perpendicular to the single axis to a force on the second connector that is parallel to the single axis to move the second connector from the deployed position away from the first connector to the stored position to disconnect the connection.
A system, comprising:
- a rectangular housing having connectors positioned along at least one side;
- and,
- a single axis deployment mechanism configured to constrain movement of the connectors to a single axis and upon receiving input from an angle that is perpendicular or oblique to the axis to cause the connectors to move sequentially from either of a stored position or a deployed position to the other of the stored position and the deployed position.
A method, comprising:
- positioning a side of a first housing that comprises a line of first connectors proximate to a side of a second housing that includes a line of second connectors;
- inserting a controller through a front surface of the second housing;
- and,
- moving the controller parallel to the line of second connectors to sequentially engage the second connectors to electrically connect the line of second connectors to the line of first connectors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.